By Gus Saltonstall
A mystery of high-fiber snack food is brewing on the Upper West Side.
Piles of almonds and pretzels — always separately formed — have been appearing on the north side of West 78th Street between West End Avenue and Riverside Drive for months, according to multiple locals.
“For months now, there have been occasional huge piles of almonds or pretzels, or both, on the north side of the street,” Eve Epstein emailed West Side Rag. “It definitely does not seem like an accidental spill.”
Epstein reached out to the Rag after again finding the almond and pretzel piles on Monday morning, while also mentioning they were smaller than usual.
In terms of other patterns, Epstein added that she thought somebody was doing it overnight and that there was “always a fresh neat pile at 8 a.m.”
She has never seen the pile creator, though.
Armed with this information, West Side Rag arrived at West 78th Street and West End Avenue at 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning to stake the block out. Unfortunately, there were no almond or pretzel piles upon arrival, and nobody arrived in that next hour with the salty snacks.
“Almonds and pretzels?” an NYPD traffic officer, standing Tuesday morning on West 78th Street and Riverside Drive, repeated to the Rag after being asked if he had ever seen the piles. The officer said that he was at the location around twice a week, but rarely ventured toward West End Avenue.
There are two buildings with doormen on the north side of West 78th Street between West End and Riverside Drive, but both men working Tuesday morning told West Side Rag that they had never seen or heard about the pretzel and almond piles.
However, in the process of asking the first doorman on the block, a resident exiting the building with his dog overheard the question and chimed in with a smile — “almond piles, right?”
“Yes, you’ve seen them?” the Rag inquired, excitedly.
“Yeah. They’re always very deliberate. I don’t think they’re for birds. I usually see them late at night.”
“How often do you see them?”
“Very intermittently. But they seem ceremonial.”
The building resident then continued to Riverside Park for the morning dog walk.
If anybody has any more information about the almond and pretzel piles of West 78th Street, please email info@westsiderag.com.
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I wonder why the UWS has a rat problem!
I wonder why 78th & Riverside Dr needs an NYPD traffic officer.
Because of the construction and detour on the 79th St entrance/exit to the Henry Hudson.
I’d worry they are poisoned. There was a super uptown on RSD a few years ago that put out poison because he was angry about the poop left behind. Many dogs died.
Are they roasted or unroasted? Salted or unsalted? Organic or not? Pretzels – Snyder’s? Rold Gold?
There’s clearly more investigative work to be done.
Hi Peter- the almonds are always roasted and seem flavored- never plain. Pretzels always traditional pretzel shape but not regular sized or tiny- that in between size.
Peter: I nominate YOU! Bring the mustard,
Almonds are not cheap.
Stick to which way the lines go, Gus. This is over your head.
I ran this by a child, who stated, quite unequivocally, that this “must be some kind of code like in Harriet the Spy.” Given that I don’t have a better explanation, this sounds like as sound a possibility as any. 🙂
Looks like an offering to a vegan God.
Reminds me of the Baltimore Poe Toaster, but even more mysterious! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe_Toaster
I’ve been following this for a while and it’s not always almonds and pretzels. On February 5th (I know because I document the piles) I saw a combination of potato chips and almonds. They looked like Ruffles or another ridged chip. The most recent pile (June 8) seemed to be Trader Joe’s Chili Thai Lime & Chili Almonds. I recognized the lime leaves in the mix.
you are 100% right- they do look like the lime and chili ones this time!
Hi Melanie! Would you please email me at gus.saltonstall@westsiderag.com? I’d be very curious to hear more. Thanks
I think we’re all curious!
Lol! What an UWS story. We have to get Holmes on the job.
I love that this is an article. I also cracked up at the fact that the reported was there at 7am to see what’s going on. I can just imagine what’s going through their mind as they’re getting ready in the morning for this.
Please provide your readers frequent updates on this matter. I am enjoying this mystery!
People turning to voodoo because of electoral failures.
Does anyone know whether George Soros is behind this? After all, almond trees consume a lot of water, and traditional pretzels look like symbols of the holy Trinity. Q.E.D.
Check the neighborhood cam’s! Somebody must have cameras outside there building. 🎥
UWS Version of Blair Witch Project
LOLLLLLL.
Is someone a rat fan?
Or are they trying to poison rats?
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